themaroonwanderer-blog - Tumblr blog

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

Wandering Around West Central Iloilo

More than just a subject requirement, travelling is also one of my favorite things to do, and so for this blog, I chose to feature three of the towns in West Central iloilo namely; Santa Barbara, Cabatuan and Janiuay. 

The trip happened last Saturday, November 22, 2014, around 9 am to 3 pm where the sun will literally burn your skin, haha, but lucky me, my mom accompanied me and she turned into a hero because she's the one who holds my bag and umbrella while I take photographs of the awe-struck wonders of the places we visited. (hooray Mom!).

Anyways, the succeeding posts will tackle about a brief history, the culture, heritage, interesting trivia, food and my personal experiences of the place, so might as well tuck in your comfortable seats, grab some popcorn, and enjoy while you and I revisit the rich heritage of West Central Iloilo. 

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

A Plethora of Experiences

Travelling is really a great way to escape stress, boredom and curiosity and visiting our heritage is a great way to learn and to time travel back to the old golden days of our culture.

Even though the sun is burning hot and I'm all well dressed up, i don't care because I enjoyed and learned so much about these places, and to prove that, here are some of my photographs.

Feeling 'tourista' at the Santa Barbara plaza.

Look how amazing the brick wall of Cabatuan church is.

Playing with lights and shadow at the ruins of the St. Julian of Cuenca Church.

And to end this photo diary, here is a beautiful bridge in a pond at the Janiuay plaza. 

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

Santa Barbara: The Home of The Famous Burning Water

A Brief History

The Agustinian Archives, Vol. 17-18, which record the missionary achievements of the Agustinian missionaries, mentions that in 1617 the missionaries ministered of a community then known as Catmon, a name derived from a fruit tree which was an imposing landmark, which sat on a rich and fertile plain traversed by the Salug (now Tigum) and Aganan rivers, producing rice, corn, sugar, mongo and tobacco. Then Catmon was only a “Visita Catmon” of Jaro vicariate. In 1760, Catmon was established as an independent parish, whose patron saint was Santa Barbara and the settlement became a “pueblo” named after her. Its total population at the time was 15,094. In 1845, its population was 19,719 and it covered area which are now the Municipalities of Zarraga, New Lucena and parts of Leganes and Pavia.

Tourists Spots

Flagpole Park

In front of the Municipal Hall building, stands a 120-feet flagpole amidst a well manicured mini-park. Constructed in time with the 1998 Philippine Centennial Celebrations, and it flies the biggest Philippine Flag outside Luzon. This flag is one of the only five giant flags in the country measuring 30x60 feet. The giant flag is displayed on occasions like Independence Day and Kahilwayan Festival among others.

Gen. Martin T. Delgado Monument

A bronze statue, facing the Municipal Hall Building in the northwestern entrance of the “Victory” Plaza. The monument is a tribute to the town’s most distinguished son and the greatest revolutionary hero Visayas has ever produced- Gen. Martin T.Delgado. The statue which was unveiled in time with the 1998 Centennial Celebration is an unfading memorial of the gallantry and patriotism of Gen. Delgado and his revolutionary forces.

Santa Barbara Church and Convent

Unfortunately, the church was under renovation when we visited the place. In 1991, the National Heritage Institute declared the Santa Barbara Church and Convent as a National Landmark. The declaration is a testimony of the significance of the Church especially its important role in the Country’s history as the general headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces against Spain in the Visayas during the late 1800s.

Located just beside the church is one of the best preserved convents in Iloilo. Inside it has various shrines and gardens as well as a cemetery and a portion called "Avenue of Saints" lined with almost 20 statues of different saints.

Santa Barbara Church was built in 1845 and is of Baroque Renaissance architecture. The whole structure imposes simplicity and beauty. Its facade is neoclassic, proven by twinned neoclassic pilasters and finials. Beside it is the convent, which is reminiscent of Moorish architecture. The interior of the church is neoclassic in style. It has three altars more elaborate than the facade and an intricately designed pulpit in the left side of the wall.

 This structure along with the church is up for restoration by the National Historical Institute and is being planned to be converted into a museum, among others.

A tribute to our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, is a monument dedicated to his efforts to the propaganda movement together with other porpagandists including another Ilonggo, Graciano Lopez Jaena. The monument is located at the town plaza.

Nestled in the heart of the town and landscaped in time for the 1998 Philippine Centennial is the Victory Plaza. It is considered as a favorite hang-out of young and old especially during afternoons and early evenings. Its main feature is the Bandstand which is an octagonal-shaped structure constructed in 1925. It  serves as venue to various political gatherings and other social activities in town.

Local Trivia

Being known as one of the oldest institution in this town during the American time, Santa Barbara Central Elementary School has been chosen as one of the best schools in the province for it has contributed a lot in the progress and development of the community. 

In order to meet the needs of the faithful, the Santa Barbara Catholic Cemetery was constructed in 1845 at Sitio Anggasan, Barangay Duyanduyan. Its facade is one of the strongest structures built during the Spanish time that has survived the earthquakes. 

Food Trippin'!

Bibingka

What makes the Sta. Barbara bingka different from bingkas from other towns is how it looks and tastes more like a puto rather than traditional bingka. So one day, I went on a quest to discover how these bingkas are made.

Puto Manapla de Santa Barbara

 Among the ways of determining an authentic "Manapla" puto, is the texture of the banana leaf it is wrapped in. It should be "sturdy" enough not to tear when the puto is unwrapped. it was the taste that really said it was a good puto manapla.

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

Cabatuan: Home of The Iloilo International Airport

A Brief History

The town of Cabatuan was first noted for the "Sinulugans" or hillside tribesmen who annually practice the art of “Sinulog” or Dance of Death characterized by sword fighting rituals. "Tulisanes" and Rustlers also inhabit the place before the Spaniards came in 1732.The town was founded on April 9, 1732 after a molave cross (with only its base currently existing) was planted on the peak of Pamul-ogan Hill. It was originally planned by Tono whose statue now stands in front of the Municipal Building. He was then a town leader together with two other leaders Gomoc and Amihan. This early settlement was then flourishing on a level zone of land near the northern bank of the Tigum River where the poblacion or the commercial center of the town is now located.In 1733, Cabatuan was officially organized upon the installation of Rev. Fr. Antonio Lopez as its first priest and Tono as its first “gobernadorcillo”.

Tourists Spots

San Nicholas de Tolentino Church

Neoclassical in style, the church of San Nicolas de Tolentino, patron saint of Cabatuan, was built in 1834, replacing the temporary ones constructed by earlier priests. It was Rev. Fr. Ramon Alquizar, an Augustinian, who initiated in building the church. Every side of the church is a facade in itself. Its walls are overlaid with red bricks.

The High Altar is reputed to be the tallest in all of Iloilo and contains the statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, The Sacred Heart of Jesus and a statue of San Nicolas. The large crucifix is in its place of honour atop the Tabernacle.

When we move to the more easily accessible side of the church, the west side, we can clearly see the plainness of the construction which in the first section of the lower level includes very large windows and two major doorways. We can also note the base  or first level of one of the fallen bell towers. This sections façade is broken up into 5 sections by large brick pilasters. The second level contains four occuli with stained glass windows in them and a large rectangular window next to the existing bell tower.

The next section of this façade is exactly similar to the first section with the exception of the buttress at the south end of the wall and the unoccupied niche on the second level over the major entrance way which replaces an occuli.

The age of the structure is readily apparent and it is awe inspiring in its grandeur. It is not surprising when you learn that it is in fact the largest church in the region, even larger than the Cathedral in Iloilo Proper.

Another shrine of our National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, truly shows the respect and remembrance of Ilonggos to his bravery and courage.

The town plaza in a sunny day.

The Tree of Bondage

The Shrine of the Bondage Tree lies in the Town plaza directly in front of the Municipal Hall of Cabatuan. It is believed that the natives were tied in this tree and whipped if they refuse the polo or forced labor during the Spanish Era. The tree is an old and artistically skewed Plumeria tree (Plumeria rubra) currently fortified with a concrete base to withstand destruction.

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

Janiuay: The First Class Municipality of Iloilo

A Brief History

In the summer of 1578, the natives of Tala-ugis trudged up from the coast to establish a settlement northward in the interior along Suage River. The first settlers were led by families of Gamuk, Hutikon, Uganet and Pagdakton, who settled themselves in what is currently known as barangays Matag-ub, Danao, Yabon and Quipot. More than a century later, Spaniards came along these parts of Panay. Early in 1738, Datu Buhawi of Yabon recognized the Spanish government, thus subjugating himself and his barangay to Spanish rule. But, Datu Dumagtol of nearby Ubian refused to follow suit. He led his subjects to the mountains to resist against the Spanish colonizers. The Spanish governor Francisco Bayot de Ocampo recommended to the Principalía to transfer the seat of government, and in the following year (1770), the settlements were strengthened in their administration in what they called "Janiuay".

Janiuay can be accessed from all directions with good paved concrete and asphalt road infrastructures from the east, north and south. Mode of transport can either be jeeps, motorcycles fitted with cabs for 2-5 persons locally known as tricycles for inter barrangay transport. Intertowns are plied by buses, jeeps and private vans.

Tourists Spots

St. Julian of Cuenca Church

The Janiuay Catholic Church was built of sandstone, lime stone and layered bricks and was completed in February 1770. Its belfry used to carry three magnificent bells, the largest weighing close to a ton. WWII damaged the belfry, and the bells were lowered to ground after the war. The largest bell crashed down during the relocation and suffered a crack 18 inches (460 mm) in length from its lip upwards. When sounded it gives a distinct baritone rattling sound that can be heard for miles. It is now mounted in the new church's belfry built in the late 60s.

On approaching the site of the new church we walk past the ruins and one of the first things we see is this wall of red brick and limestone.

Walking around the corner of this wall, we are confronted with yet another large red brick wall leading to the original bell tower.

The corner of the building is a massive construct of limestone and the on-going wall is of solid red brick. A few hundred feet to the north of this corner is the bell tower.

Finally, as we depart, we find one last treasure, the statue of St. Julian outside the church that overlooks the town square and the town’s main road intersection.

This is the new church which was officially opened in 1968.

The church has a wide open, bright, airy and refreshing style. Wide open, because there are literally no side walls – the church is open to the elements. There are gratings where the wall should be – see the photo below. 

Each opening is topped with a stained glass window depicting one of the stations of the Way of the Cross.

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

photo not mine. (c) to the owner

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

Disclaimer

All photos used for the purpose of this blog is mine, unless stated otherwise. Do not duplicate without my consent.

[themaroonwanderer-blog]

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."